Business Intelligence (BI)

Digital disruptors continue to change the pace of retail — and Neiman Marcus is ready.   Like many retailers, the luxury department store chain continues to introduce more mobile technology at store-level, a move that supports both in-store operations and consumer-driven tasks, from browsing through procurement.    “It is a trend that requires our network to be a mission-critical lifeline at every store,” said Scott Emmons, head of the Neiman Marcus Innovation Lab (iLab). 

A few years ago, there was considerable buzz in the retail industry about the enormous potential of mobile point of sale (mPOS) and its ability to transform the in-store customer experience. With online competitors driving new consumer expectations and shopping behavior, this was seen as a key strategy in blunting the competition and giving brick and mortar merchants an upper hand.   

Mall of America is debuting new wayfinding kiosks that expand the concept of the typical mall directory.         The mall recently installed six interactive wayfinding kiosks, from Express Image, that provide shoppers with customized assistance in as little as 10-20 seconds.   

It’s not a joke.   Amazon Web Services has announced a new service, called AWS Snowmobile, designed to physically get all of the data stored in a company's massive data center into Amazon's cloud, Business Insider reported.     

The Wendy’s Company has extended its commitment to reducing energy.   The restaurant chain has joined the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star Program and will work to improve energy efficiency through a strategic, corporate energy management program that will enhance the company's energy strategy.  

To cut through the noise in a cluttered marketplace, Express Gifts is getting personal.    With 35,000 products sold and a growing online presence, web-based sales continue to drive significant turns for Express Gifts. However, to understand and influence their online visitors, the gifting retailer knew personalization was critical to extend the loyalty of their existing customer base, and increase market share.  

While retailers are focused on unified commerce, most retailers’ planning tools are not capable of supporting this digital environment.   This message was revealed in Boston Retail Partners’ “2016 Merchandise Planning Survey,” a report based on responses from more than 500 North American retailers. The report delivers insight into retailers’ planning initiatives, priorities and future trends.   

Lighting is fundamental to any retail store, whether that is for setting a scene and influencing how a brand is perceived, or even encouraging shoppers to make a particular purchase. However, if not managed correctly, it can be extremely expensive. In fact, lighting accounts for around 53% off all electricity consumption in a typical retail outlet, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.  

Pinterest is launching a new program designed to help brand partners present more relevant advertising messages to Pinners.   Through a partnership with Neustar, Pinterest’s marketing partners now have a solution that leverages the social media platform’s customer-specific information as well as Neustar’s proprietary audiences. The combination of data gives advertisers a standardized view of customer across every marketing channel, and an unprecedented reach among customers.